Adjustable die



Sept. 29, 1931. w c JOHNSON 1,825,067

ADJUSTABLE DIE Filed Oct. 24. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- p 1931- Q w. c. JOHNSON 1,825,067

ADJUSTABLE DIE Filed Oct. 24. 1929 2 Sheets Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNETEDI STATES WALTER c. JOHNSON, or ngngsrrqmnpnnw ionkf Am ment- Application filed October 24,";1e2e. ser i 1',1v l,ga,'278, f

changed to conform to the molding or edging v of the sheets of metal to adapt the die to the production of different designs or marginal.

configurations or moldings.

My invention embodies and consists-essentially in the novel construction of a die in which both the female and male members comprise each a plurality of sections or units which are adjustable and of which any required number'may be used to enlarge or diminish the size and capacity of, the die, the

components of each member consisting of adjustable corner sections and intermediate, interchangeable and detachable sections.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my improved die,

Figure 1 is a plan view with parts of the male members of the structure broken away to better illustrate the under parts;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the die members in relatively open position,- with an intervening sheet to be pressed;

Figure 3 is a similar vertical longitudinal section, with certain details of the upper or male member omitted with the die members in closed relation and embracing a molded or pressed sheet;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the lower, stationary die member. J

Figure 5 is a plan view of the adjustable retainer for the male die sections;

Figure 6 is an underside plan view of the upper die sections;

Figures 7 and 8 certain details;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a filler element for the separable sections or" the male die member.

The numeral 3 designates the base block of are sectional views of ,ledges. for;theFseating of the die elements the Edie, which is shownas being of :oblo'ng rectangular; form andwhichl is provided on ts-=iupper surface-with a plurality of henrental-under out grooves or. channels' ex- ,tendangit inwardly "irom the hedges of" the ablock onall-sicles. Thenumeral 5des1gnates (a setto f retaining bars forming a fframem or eop1pg ..and arrange'd Wltll the inner end or" .lea eh bart abuttingaagainst the-inneraedge ,lof ansoppos ng bar an'd mcluding a rectangular .spaceiwhiehki s adiustablel in longi- H .tudinal-iandti lateraledirections toggenlarge ordiminish the size of the spacer :JEachi barriszformedon its outer. edge with Vla pluralityiofilongitudinally slotte'd, lugs or flanges GifOr the passa e of bolt-s 7 by-whieh a the bars are adjustablysecuredtothe-base disposed-intheigrooves or channels 4:"01? the base gbloek and i -furnished with holding fl rts 82 1" 'sEa'ch efthebarsflis adjustable both longi tudinally and laterally, :the lateral: gadjustment being provided for by the;boltsfl7 and groo-vesi't,eand the"longitudinal adjustment through the slotted lugs- Gand l bolts 7, the latteri pas'sing. througlr the 'slots, and having theenuts *8 :onstheir threaded ends {above the flangesior ears-5. i'flhe -bars a are formed on their sinner; edges with rebates 9 producing 10', t whi ch are y correspondingly related and which -.are shaped on their inner edges to eonfionm 350 a the :eurvatureof; the borders of panels rorsother article: to jbeformed bythe die. The endsl-of -the b ars .5 'wi'l'l be coped orifiashi'one'd to restQ-snuglypn the curved portionsio'ij-the elementslO; v V I :As' will'gbeanoteid, the upper surfaces of the bars 5 are serrated to prevent the blank which atis' I clamped thereon from slippihg. The-numeral 1-2 =tlesi gnatesa series of retaining or clamping bars corresponding in shape andidimensions to the bars 5, These bars 12 are slotted longitudinally as indicated at 13, for the reception of bolts 14, which are carried by the plate 15 of the upper die member. This plate is slotted as shown at 16 for the passage of the bolts 14, the heads of which span the slots 16. The purpose of these slots is, to permit of the longitudinal and lateral adjustment of the bars 12 to correspond to the adjustment of the bars 5. Spiral springs 17 encircling the bolts 14 and located between the plate 15 and the bars 12 allow the bars 12 to be forced down into clamping relation with the bars 5 and the included blank 18 previous to the descent of the male die member.

The press plate 15' carries the die blocks 19, which are provided with dowel pins 19 fitting sockets 19 in the plate 15. There are a plurality of blocks 19 of rectangular form and assembled together to produce a male die combination corresponding in size to the female die combination. Theseblocks are removable and interchangeable so as to vary the dimensions of the die member to correspond to the adjustments of the lower die elements, to meet required changes as to size. n a

They are held together at their inner edges by dowel pins 19 and receiving sockets so that they may be relatively spaced apart for the purposes of expansion. When so spaced,

. the intervals between blocks may be filled by filling strips 24 correspondingto Fig. 9 a and having bayonet slots 26 to interlock with the dowel pins-19 Where more than one panelis to be made Y in a single blank the sections are removed from the upper die assemblage reversed and applied to the lower die. 7 i The upper die member sections or blocks "19 have rebated lower outer corners to receive the curved members or edgings '9 which co-act with the complementary edg ings of the lower die to produce the desired bending ofthe blank.

I claim 1; In a die of the character described, the

combination with a base block of a set of retaining side and end bars,longitudinally and laterally adjust-able relatively to said block and to each other,the end of each end I bar abutting against the side of one side bar, and against the end of the opposite side bar whereby the enclosed rectangular space may be varied in dimensions in two directions while maintaining their contact rela tionship the said bars and base constituting a lower member of a die press. 1

' 2. In adie as claimed in claim 1,' a set of retaining bars laterally and longitudinally adjustable and carried by the upper member of the die press.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

- WALTER C. JOHNSON. 

